The Proposed Anti-Polygamy Amendment to the Constitution
By K. C. RUSSELL.
At the last session of Congress instructions were given by the Senate to its judiciary committee to report a form of constitutional amendment for the suppression of polygamy within thirty days after the assembling of Congress. Recognizing this as an opportune time to advance their cause and secure that for which they have for many years been laboring,—a religious amendment to the Constitution of the United States,—the National Reformers have seized upon this proposal for an anti-polygamy amendment as the basis for a campaign. Petitions are being circulated by them, asking not only for such an amendment, but “that it shall contain an acknowledgment of the moral laws of Jesus Christ as the basis and standard of such legislation.” They have also published a leaflet, which they are vigorously circulating, setting forth their views respecting this matter, and are urging the friends of National Reform far and near to agitate this question, and to circulate these leaflets and petitions. They are also planning to have a hearing before the judiciary committee as soon as Congress convenes, in which to set forth and urge their views in this matter. This campaign which the National Reformers are entering upon so strenuously should be a danger-signal to every lover of Christian liberty. When those who are seeking for a union of church and state regard the introduction of a constitutional amendment against polygamy as a providential and opportune time to realize their long-cherished desire “to secure such an amendment to the Constitution of the United States as will declare the nation’s allegiance to Jesus Christ, and its acceptance of the moral laws of the Christian religion; and so indicate that this is a Christian nation, and place all the Christian laws, institutions, and usages of our government on an undeniable legal basis in the fundamental law of the land,” it should arouse every lover of liberty to sound the warning against this wicked scheme. The tract which they are circulating so largely is a well-written presentation of the question from their standpoint. In their arguments to show that this is a Christian nation, they say that out of our present State constitutions more than forty contain some more or less explicit form “of religious acknowledgment.” The decision of the Supreme Court of the United States, handed down by Justice Brewer Feb. 29, 1892, declaring that this is a Christian nation, is also cited as another evidence. And further, they say that “it is not too much to say that the American people have recorded their deliberate and emphatic judgment that a written constitution of government ought to contain some acknowledgment of the Supreme Ruler of the universe.” While the Seventh-day Adventists do not oppose an amendment for the suppression of polygamy in this country on purely civil grounds, as is contemplated by the Congress of the United States, yet they should at the same time enter a most emphatic protest against this rider which the National Reformers wish to have tacked on to this proposed amendment. Their purpose is briefly stated in their own words, as follows: “That such an amendment may contain an explicit acknowledgment of the moral laws of Jesus Christ as the basis and standard of our legislation relating to the family.” In these words is involved all that the National Reform Party has ever sought; and should their proposed measure carry, it would open the flood-gates for all the evil legislation that has ever blighted the world. We trust that the reader will be ready to co-operate with us in our efforts to warn the people against this effort to unite church and state as proposed by these National Reformers.